KIRO Consumer Investigators first warned viewers about the threat more than a year ago.

You open your e-mail and discover someone demanding money or you'll be killed by a hit man.

Now, your loved ones are threatened.

But rest assured, it's all a scam!

The FBI released a warning Wednesday not to fall for them: Threatening e-mails that demand money or else.

Josh McCudden of Bellingham received one claiming that a hit man had been hired to kill him.

"So I opened it up, started reading it, and it was a threat on my life. They did say not to contact police, to keep it hush-hush, don't even tell your family and friends because it could be one of them," said McCudden.

McCudden knew it was a scam.

He filed a complaint with the Whatcom County Sheriff's Office and ignored the threat.

Now, according to an alert released by the FBI, two new versions of the scheme have been appearing in recent weeks.

One tells recipients to call a phone number contained in the e-mail; the other threatens to kidnap a loved one unless a ransom is paid.

Both threaten the recipient with bodily harm if money isn't sent within a certain time frame.

When McCudden received his threat last year, detectives told him not to be concerned.

"I wouldn't rate it as a very credible or high-risk situation. Certainly, if you have any doubts, contact local law enforcement," said Whatcom County Sheriff's Department Chief Deputy Jeff Parks.

In the meantime, you should know that the threats are not real.

The FBI says you are not in danger; just delete them.